as statements of faith tend to be, the one at Prairie Bible Institute (PBI) in Three Hills, Alta., is unequivocal. Like many Christian belief statements, it affirms the Bible
as divinely inspired. It states that Satan
continues to threaten and that the
physical return of Jesus is imminent. The
school also understands Adam and Eve as
real people, rooted in time and place.

While the postsecondary institution
does allow “for some variation in theological perspective or position,” their
statement says it is only where the variance “is warranted” by Scripture itself.

So there was little wiggle room last sum-mer for Anthony Siegrist, an associate pro-fessor of Christian theology at Prairie, whobelieves the historical existence of Adamand Eve cannot be known for certain – andthat this belief is not theologically centralanyway. Because of this, Siegrist’s contractwas not renewed after June 30, 2015.

“Professors have the freedom to present
various views in the classroom,” PBI said
in a public statement – an announcement
which affirmed Siegrist’s character and
gifts as a professor – “but in the end they
are asked to believe and teach the positions that are in line with Prairie’s Statement of Faith.” That statement was approved by both Siegrist and Prairie as they
worked through what it meant to part
ways. Mark L. Maxwell is president of
Prairie: “We hoped to demonstrate for
our various communities, especially our
students, how to take positions on a biblical basis as well as how to implement
the ramifications (letting a professor go)
in a healthy Christian way,” he says.

The Prairie Christian Academy, a five-minute walk away from PBI, made head-lines last spring when it received $7 millionfrom Alberta’s Conservative governmentto modernize and expand their facilities.Opposition politicians cried foul when itwas discovered that public money wasbeing used to fund a school where teachersmust agree to abstain from homosexualrelations (as well as adultery).

What’s a Christian organization to do?

WE lIkE To pu T THINgs
IN WRITINg

Across the spectrum of Christian expression, there is a long tradition of clearly
laying out standards for belief and behaviour. And often for good reason, says
Bruce J. Clemenger, president of The
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC).
“Agreed-upon statements of faith bring
people together on common ground and
sometimes, of course, show how people are
apart in what they believe,” says Clemenger.
As an umbrella organization for Christian
organizations, schools, denominations and
Bold ly St ated

Why codes of conduct and statements of faithmatter to Christian organizationsOrganizational codes of conduct and statements of faith can be guidingdocuments – and provoke controversy. Here’s whyBy Ron Csillag